📚 Topic Summary
AP CSP Computing Ethics delves into the moral implications of computing technologies, examining how software, data, and algorithms impact individuals and society. A pivotal case study is Cambridge Analytica, which exposed how personal data, harvested without explicit consent, could be used for political microtargeting. This incident underscores the urgent need for robust data privacy regulations, ethical algorithm design, and a critical understanding of our digital footprints to prevent manipulation and ensure responsible technology use.
📝 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its correct definition.
- Term 1: Data Privacy
- Definition A: The practice of protecting personal information from unauthorized access or use.
- Term 2: Algorithmic Bias
- Definition B: Systematic and repeatable errors in a computer system that create unfair outcomes, such as favoring one group over another.
- Term 3: Digital Footprint
- Definition C: The trail of data you leave behind when you use the internet.
- Term 4: Microtargeting
- Definition D: A marketing strategy that uses consumer data to identify specific individuals or small groups of people and then tailor messages to them.
- Term 5: Informed Consent
- Definition E: Permission granted in full knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided below:
The Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted critical issues in _________ and _________. Users' personal information was harvested without their _________, leading to concerns about _________ and its impact on democratic processes.
- 🎯 Missing Word 1: Data Privacy
- 🤖 Missing Word 2: Algorithmic Bias
- 🤝 Missing Word 3: Informed Consent
- 🔍 Missing Word 4: Microtargeting
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
- 💭 Considering the Cambridge Analytica case, what ethical responsibilities do social media platforms have regarding user data, and how can individuals protect their digital footprint in an increasingly data-driven world?